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GUNNISON BASIN , . June, 1997 <br /> I <br /> Basinwide Conditions Assessment: <br /> The SWSI value of 2.8 indicates that for May the GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> basin water supplies were above normal. The Natural S up Surface Water Supply index Ni9tory <br /> Resources Conservation Service reports June 1 snowpack as ,_ <br /> 145% of normal. Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre ,: <br /> River near Ridgway averaged 430 cfs as compared to the long 3^ "e' <br /> term average of 323 cfs. Storage in Taylor Park, Crawford, 2- • " `'V" " <br /> and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 103%of normal as of the end ., 1- `�" --. <br /> ' III .-- <br /> of May. � <br /> May has been a varied month with good precipitation _ J 'i.,� ; : ' , v <br /> if m <br /> and some hot weather. The hot spell melted the low to <br /> moderate elevation snow pack,but did not seriously lessen the <br /> c -2- •r, <br /> high elevation amounts. The precipitation provided a little 3- <br /> more snow up high and created saturated conditions for the -4 r- -�- -- <br /> JAN9B JAN99 JAN90 JAN91 JAN92 JAN93 JAN94 JAN95 JAN96 JAN97 <br /> anticipated runoff. MYEAR <br /> Outlook <br /> The outlook continues to look bright, and the rivers <br /> should peak during the first three weeks of June. The <br /> saturated conditions should help the duration of the runoff, UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER NR. R I DGWAY <br /> and provide more mid-summer water. 200 FLOW NY WATER YEAR <br /> 190 -N <br /> 180 7 <br /> 170 <br /> Administrative/Management Concerns 160 - <br /> The basin has not experienced any flooding yet, but 143 <br /> the rain in mid-May, coupled with the high rivers, could have a 130 <br /> 120 <br /> - <br /> caused some problems. Fortunately the cool weather reduced o 1 ;00 <br /> the snowmelt and brought the river levels down. The 1.`„? 90 <br /> >, ao <br /> possibility for flooding is still there because of the volume of 3 70 <br /> snow remaining at the high elevations. As of June 1 there 1 : ji <br /> .�was a lot of snow left on Grand Mesa, and the reservoirs on40the mesa were getting full. The Gunnison and Uncompahgre _ <br /> Rivers should be protected from flooding due to the large 0 <br /> Oct Nov Oee Jan Feb March APnI I may June Ju IS Aug Sept <br /> volume of storage space left in Blue Mesa, Taylor Park, and MONTH <br /> OI WET 09947 o OPT(1977, a AVG X 1357 <br /> Ridgway Reservoirs. <br /> Public Use Impacts <br /> During the month of May, irrigators were making the <br /> most of free river conditions to soak their fields. REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> Recreationalists are now seeing reservoirs filling. Public 70 GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> officials in towns along the rivers are cautiously watching the <br /> rivers for flooding potential. <br /> i '7\ <br /> e <br /> L <br /> vn <br /> a x 40 <br /> Is F ao <br /> I <br /> 20..7\\\ <br /> Taylar Park O•ewfcrd Fruitland <br /> ® AVg. 5/31 Content* ® 5 51/97 Content* <br /> 6 <br />